Kenya and Kuwait Deepen Cooperation on Labour, Trade, Investment and Development
Kenya and Kuwait have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations, with renewed focus on labour mobility, trade, investment, tourism and development cooperation following high-level discussions held in Nairobi.
Deputy Director General for the Middle East Directorate, Amb. Lindsay Kiptiness, ‘ndc’ (K), today received the newly accredited Ambassador of the State of Kuwait to Kenya, Amb. Anas Talib Marafi, for a courtesy call aimed at advancing the longstanding partnership between the two countries.
The two diplomats reviewed a broad range of issues of mutual interest and benefit, underscoring the importance of expediting the signing of pending Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and bilateral agreements to unlock new opportunities for cooperation across key sectors.
Labour mobility featured prominently during the meeting. Ambassador Marafi commended the professionalism and strong work ethic of Kenyan workers, noting that Kuwait continues to offer employment opportunities, particularly for Kenyan nurses and domestic workers. He emphasised the need to conclude the pending labour agreements to establish a structured framework for labour migration while strengthening the protection and welfare of workers.
Addressing recent reports regarding Kenyan domestic workers in Kuwait, Ambassador Marafi clarified that the developments should not be interpreted as a blanket ban but rather as an opportunity for both governments to conclude a comprehensive bilateral agreement governing the recruitment, protection and welfare of domestic workers.
On economic cooperation, Ambassador Marafi noted that the Kuwait Investment Authority and the Kuwaiti private sector are keen to explore investment opportunities in Kenya, particularly within the country’s Special Economic Zones. He requested detailed information on priority investment projects as both countries seek to expand commercial and investment partnerships.
To strengthen trade ties, the two sides agreed to organise a coffee origin familiarisation tour for Kuwaiti coffee companies, enabling them to gain first-hand experience of Kenya’s coffee value chain and explore opportunities for direct sourcing, trade and investment.
Tourism also featured prominently in the discussions. Amb. Kiptiness invited more Kuwaiti visitors to experience Kenya’s world-renowned wildlife, diverse tourism attractions and hospitality, noting the growing popularity of safari tourism among travellers from Kuwait. He also assured the Ambassador that Kenya remains free of Ebola, highlighting the Government’s heightened public health surveillance measures, including the screening of over 100,000 travellers.
The meeting further acknowledged the significant contribution of the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development to Kenya’s socio-economic development through investments in infrastructure, education, healthcare and food security. Both ambassadors called for the completion of ongoing Kuwait-funded projects to pave the way for additional development financing and expanded cooperation.
The discussions also covered regional and international peace and security. The two diplomats welcomed positive diplomatic efforts towards achieving durable peace and stability in the Middle East, including recent dialogue between the United States and Iran, and reiterated the importance of dialogue, diplomacy and the peaceful resolution of disputes.
The meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment of Kenya and Kuwait to expanding cooperation across strategic sectors while further strengthening the longstanding diplomatic partnership between the two countries for the mutual benefit of their peoples.